IOR/L/PS/5/375, ff 217-322

Copies of correspondence, minutes and other documents chiefly relating to logistical and financial arrangements made by Colonel Henry Pottinger, Resident in Sinde [Sindh, also spelled Scinde and Sind in this volume], in connection with the Army of the Indus arriving and marching through Sinde (and Khelat [Kalat]) in advance of the British invasion of Afghanistan.

The papers notably cover and include:

• Arrangements for landing of troops at Kurrachee [Karachi] and stationing at Tattah [Thatta], including costs of building temporary store houses at Kurrachee (f 275)
• Obtaining treasury funds to finance operations, provision of supplies, means of transport and secret intelligence
• Acquisition of camels for the Army of the Indus and their strategic placement along the marching route
• Arrangements for the Dâks (postal communication service) and salaries for runners (ff 302-303)
• Relations with the Ameers of Sinde, notably regarding: treaty negotiations; currency values and exchange rates; route of the Bombay [Mumbai] division of the Army of the Indus through their territory; protection of the British troops from attack and robbery; and how they will handle capturing the murderers of Captain Hand of the 2nd Grenadier Regiment on 21 March 1839
• Dilapidated state of the Fort of Bukkur, on the Indus River (ff 270-272)
• Pottinger’s communications with and instructions to Brigadier J Valiant, Commanding the Sinde Reserve Force, Kurrachee, and Lieutenant Whitelock, Assistant Resident in Scinde at Tattah.

The principal correspondent is Colonel Pottinger. Other notable correspondents are: John Pollard Willoughby, Secretary to the Government, India; and Brigadier Valiant.

There is a note before the papers commence stating: ‘Enclosure in Bombay Secret Letter No. 56, dated 8th May 1839, is missing from this collection’.